WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- A soldier from Fairfax, Va. has been killed in Afghanistan while supporting Operation Eduring Freedom, the Department of Defense said.

1st Lt. Robert J. Hess died April 23, in Pul-E-Alam, Afghanistan, after wounds suffered from enemy indirect fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Aviation Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y., according to the Dept. of Defense.

Hess was a Blackhawk pilot. After completing pilot training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, he arrived at Fort Drum in November 2012, according to the Ft. Drum website.

He was recently deployed to Afghanistan in April 2013.

Hess's awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the NATO Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Army Aviator Badge.